I think the fact some AFC north teams that are playing for PO spots play each other only benefits us. I think if anything.. i was very glad to see K.C win this week. i think that mentally lifts weight off of their shoulders to get that emotional victory out the way. I don't think the Texans rest their starters regardless of the circumstance especially if it could knock us out of a WC spot. if we can steal a win in Houston that would make things very interesting. This titans game would be a great time to put together a complete game.

If they can't improve their seeding i think they will.. Seems to be conventional wisdom with everyone except the patriots

kubiak coached under shannahan and resting players cost them the year the jags upset them in the first round...next year the broncos decided not to rest players and they won the first of back to back super bowls. that was the story "stink" told anyway.

i thought resting players with a first round bye cost the packers last year, offensively anyway, rodgers just looked off.

Considering 9-7 may not be enough to make the playoffs, I'd have to agree that losing at home to the Titans may be a massive blow to our playoffs hopes, but it could also mean little if the Steelers and Bengals lose some unexpected games. Here's to hoping we get business done and and continue to sit a couple wins above the competition.

Colts must take care of business in crunch time, especially at home vs. team you are supposed to beat. Should they do their job, the roads trip to KC is hard to call with all of the recent news there.

On another note, Golic (of Mike & Mike) believes Steelers and Bengals get in and we are left out in the cold... Greeney, not so much.

“There’s no question he’s (Luck) a complete football player and one of the top quarterbacks in this league already. He has a great career in front of him but I think he’s already established himself as a very poised and talented player that can do a lot of things to beat you and he manages his team well and plays good situational football.”-New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick

Considering 9-7 may not be enough to make the playoffs, I'd have to agree that losing at home to the Titans may be a massive blow to our playoffs hopes, but it could also mean little if the Steelers and Bengals lose some unexpected games. Here's to hoping we get business done and and continue to sit a couple wins above the competition.

Colts must take care of business in crunch time, especially at home vs. team you are supposed to beat. Should they do their job, the roads trip to KC is hard to call with all of the recent news there.

On another note, Golic (of Mike & Mike) believes Steelers and Bengals get in and we are left out in the cold... Greeney, not so much.

The issue with that reasoning is that I do not see the Bengals beating the Steelers on the road with Big Ben, and last year they had the same set up hosting the Ravens at home in their last game and folded. Because of how the Steelers and Bengals have to play each other and the Colts dont have to play any of them, the Colts' losses do not result in their wins automatically. One of the Bengals or Steelers get in with the Colts, IMO.

Jvan....folks have been saying all year that the Texans will rest their regulars in the final week and give us the game.

Does anybody seriously think that's going to happen at this point??

they may rest if beat pats ,, & they may not if they feel like they actually would risk player health knowing they have a bye just to beat up on colts way past colts have dominated them, I am sure their fans would like it

Forgive any typos, try to catch, but have multiple progressive disabilities

The issue with that reasoning is that I do not see the Bengals beating the Steelers on the road with Big Ben, and last year they had the same set up hosting the Ravens at home in their last game and folded. Because of how the Steelers and Bengals have to play each other and the Colts dont have to play any of them, the Colts' losses do not result in their wins automatically. One of the Bengals or Steelers get in with the Colts, IMO.

thats how I see it

Forgive any typos, try to catch, but have multiple progressive disabilities

But if we're 9-7 we are very vulnerable........Pitt and Cincy could both go 3-1 the rest of the way and send us home...

Cincy could beat Dallas and Baltimore because those games are in Cincinnatti..and they could easily win at Philadelphia..

Pitt plays San Diego, Dallas and Cleveland.........they should won all 3.......

the Pitt-Cincy game then become irrelevent if the Colts fall to 9-7

if Pitt goes 4-0 (they'd be 11-5) and Cincy goes 3-1 (they'd be 10-6)

Bottom line: Unless you feel that Houston will lay down and give us the final game of the year...

the Colts need to beat Tennessee....Its a must game

You could be right, and the best way to handle business is to win, but I don't look at any team that's had less success this season than the Colts as having the inside track for 3 or more wins. I'm confident that Cincy has no business hanging around with Baltimore. If Dallas stays alive, they'll play to win and they can beat Cincy just as easily as not.We'll see.

I'm a little concerned about our team being EXPECTED to win ....it adds some weight to to the task

..we have so many rookies on offense..and we really havent beaten any one team decisively all season...

Feels like a trap game to me . The type where a team comes out a little flat and plays down to the level of their competetion . You can get burned that way . Pedal to the metal , get up on these guys early , play solid football the rest of the game and come out with a W .

Last min wins are fun ..... but it's time for a solid W . That's where real confidence comes from .

I don't think this week is a must win. Two wins need to be found out of four though, I think. That being said, I think the Bengals have as reasonable a chance to lose three of four as winning three of four. Cowboys are as desperate this week as the Benglas, at Philly with nothing to play for but contracts next year, then the Steelers and Ravens. My two cents is the Bengals eliminate themselves, which could make for an interesting (and meaningless) game in week 17 for the Colts and Texans, with both teams in, and maybe even seeds set.

One playoff game would be nice for the experience it will give the new players on the team. We dont have the depth and experience to go much farther than that.

"Anyone a die harder fan? I will be there believing to the end. Who is with me?" Thread started by Steveeoaktree33 at 2:49 PM of the day the Colts executed the second largest comeback in NFL playoff history. Very few concurred.

The issue with that reasoning is that I do not see the Bengals beating the Steelers on the road with Big Ben, and last year they had the same set up hosting the Ravens at home in their last game and folded. Because of how the Steelers and Bengals have to play each other and the Colts dont have to play any of them, the Colts' losses do not result in their wins automatically. One of the Bengals or Steelers get in with the Colts, IMO.

s

Steelers - Bengal is one game... We know 1 team comes out on top. It's the other 3 games for each we need to watch. i don't know tie breaks if Cincy and Pitt both end up 10-6.

“There’s no question he’s (Luck) a complete football player and one of the top quarterbacks in this league already. He has a great career in front of him but I think he’s already established himself as a very poised and talented player that can do a lot of things to beat you and he manages his team well and plays good situational football.”-New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick

We lost to Jacksonville but beat Green Bay. I think anything could happen, and since these threads are all about hypotheticals anyways, I'd don't think it's too absurd to consider the possibilities. Also, it's unfortunate that the "7th" seed won't be enough to make the playoffs (I assume this was a typo lol) But in all seriousness, I just don't feel confident that 9 wins is enough. Pittsburgh can easily finish with 10 wins, and Cincy, while not near as likely, could too.